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Picasso And Casual Self-Expressionistic Identity

Pablo Picasso: Three Muppet Musicians by Joel Schick Spanish painter, draughtsman and sculptor Pablo Picasso is best known for his 20th century work co-founding the cubist movement and the wide variety of styles that embody his work.

Early on Picasso experimented with different theories, technics and ideas manifesting himself in numerous mediums; oil paintings, sculpture, drawing and architecture.

Continuing on the topic of identity and artistic expression in this issue and past issues of En La Calle On The Street (Vol.1-4). Picasso’s form of expressionistic art seems to fit in the critical theory of identity through a symbolized self as “The Painter”, or the “Minotaur” rather than a literal representation of himself. Picasso’s manner of self-depiction changed over time of course to match with his current style, so it is interesting to compare the self-portraits from, for instance, the Blue Period to those done while the artists was working in a Cubistic mode.

Like an Artist’s use of different medium such as Picasso form of expression, which is reflected through different forms, comes the topic of self-identity and change. This issue features several artists of all medium, rather it be music, or art like Picasso. A musician(s) means of self-expression vary through musical genre or sound, much like an artist’s change of style from acrylic to pastels, while both music and art enables different forms of self-expression it also reflects a change of mood contributing to a growing identity.

Like the different medium and style of Picasso’s self-portraits, the artist grew through experimentation and testing new pleasing ideas. There are no rules to self-expression. Whether it’s going to the gym, talking with a friend or loved one or simply identifying with a song, book, TV show or movie. Self-expression in my opinion is identifying with a pleasing trait or person (fictional or not) and releasing your own opinions on a relatable trait, which one-self identifies with.

Identifying with one’s self or the other is done without you even knowing it, reader. We are human. We compare and contrast, symbolize, identify, grow and change. Much like Picasso’s growing and changing means of identifying artistic expression; Picasso plays as a larger example of self-identity and change by representing change through identifiable features by experimenting with different forms of self-expression in his art and lifetime. Much like you and I.

Best,
Juan R. Govea
Editor

PABLO PICASSO QUOTES:

“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.”

‘The chief enemy of creativity is ‘good’ sense.”

“It takes a long time to become young.”

“Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.”

“The older you get the stronger the wind gets – and it’s always in your face.”

“Give me a museum and I’ll fill it.”

“The world today doesn’t make sense, so why should I paint pictures that do? ”